Expansible garment



ug- 27,1957 '5. D. CAMPBELL '29303,83@

EXPANSIBLE GARMENT Fi1ed`sept. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l m y INVENTR EMM/ETT D. CMPBL/L ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1957 E. D. CAMPBELL EXPANSIBLE GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1954 FIG;

)3m/501x032 )EMM/ETT ID. CAMPBELL ATToRmsys .United `S1121tffsIltffltZO,I .4.

z,s03,s30 EXPASIBLE GARMENT This invention relates to expansible garments, and more particularly to ready made work garments which are provided with a let-out seam by means of which such garments may be altered in the region of the waist and seat without the necessity of extensive tailoring alterations.

In garments such as work trousers and the like, a pri-A mary consideration of the purchaser is the ultimate cost of such a garment. While such garments are worn in situations where heavy wear and strain requires stout seams and heavy material, it is also desirable that such a garment have a reasonable lit upon the wearer, for reasons of comfort and appearance. Due to the fact that the rough wear given garments of this type makes them relatively short-lived, expensive tailoring alterations on such garments are not economically feasible. While the legs of work trousers may be easily cut to length and hemmed without diiiiculty, or even merely rolled up in use. the alterations of the waist and seat portion of mens trousers to provide a comfortable fit is a task which ordinarily requires the services of a skilled tailor. One answer to this problem would be to produce work trousers in a large variety of Waist and seat sizes. A second, and more practical answer would be to provide for alteration of the seat and waist portions of work trousers without the necessity of expensive tailoring operations.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an easily altered seam in the waist and seat portion of a garment of this type.

While let-out seams of this general type have been known previously, such seams in their contracted condition have proven to be extremely bulky and unsightly in appearance.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an expansible seam for the alteration of a garment in the waist and seat portion in which the expansible seam is concealed when in its contracted position, thus improving the appearance of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved method in the formation of such a seam which provides for an easier assembly operation, thus permitting the production of such garments at a lower cost than has previously been possible.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specication when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view taken from the inside of the garment and showing the lirst step in the formation of the let-out seam;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing a subsequent step in the formation of the seam; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and shows the completed seam.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawing, right and left seat panels 1 and 2 of a pair of work trousers are joined together along their sides by a seat seam 3. A reinforcing or waist band 4 is secured to the top edge of seat panels 2 ,i 1 and 2 by a band attaching stitch 5. This construction isquite conventional in'the trouser art.

As seen in Fig. l,a first fold 6, formed in one seat panel, extends from the unsecured edge 7 of Waist band 4 to bottom edge 8 of seat panels 1 and 2. Fold 6 is so spaced from seat seam 3` as to include, between seat seam 3 and fold 6, one-third the desired area of expansion. Fold 6 is formed `so, as to be convex with respect to the outer surface of the trousers and as indicated in Fig. 1 extends upwardly of the trouser to .terminate at the un-Y secured edge 7 of waist band 4. A second fold 9 is then formed in the garment and extends along seat seam 3 and across waist band 4. The fold 9 is concave with respect to the outer surface of the garment.

To secure fold 6 to the opposite seat panel 1, a row of stitching 10 is preferably formed as a chain Stitch so it may be easily removed in order to expand the seat of the garment. After the row of stitching 10 has been formed, waist band 4 is then turned downwardly and inwardly of the garment to provide a finished upper edge 11 at the waist band of the garment. Waist band 4 may be secured in its folded position by stitching belt hooks, not shown, along the outer side of the garment so the stitching which secures the belt hooks to the garment passes through the waist band and thereby secures it in its folded position.

The finished expansible seam, as shown in Fig. 3, presents in one garment two separate waist and seat coniigurations. For persons with slim waists, the finished garment is used with the row of stitching 10 remaining in the garment to serve as the seat seam. If more room is desired in the waist and seat portions, stitching 10 may be removed, thus allowing the garment to expand. With stitching 10 removed, seam 3 acts as the seat seam of the garment.

The seat seam herein disclosed presents a greatly improved appearance over prior expansible seams in that the outer side of the garment shows only a seam between two single layers of material rather than a bulky fold between a single layer of material on one panel and a double layer of material on the second panel. Due t0 the fact that the waist band is folded inwardly after the out-let seam has been formed, the seam is completely concealed at the top edge of the garment. The method employed provides a seam in which a portion of the joined waist band and panel is telescoped beneath an adjoining portion of the joined band and panel. The enveloping action obtained by folding the waist band inwardly as the final operation not only conceals the seam to improve the appearance of the garment but in addition makes the seam smoother to provide greater comfort for the wearer.

Not only is my expansible seam heater and smoother in appearance than any others of which I have knowledge but, when the seam is formed by the method which I have disclosed, garments embodying this desirable feature may be produced much more cheaply and elliciently. By forming the seam in the manner disclosed, at no time is it necessary to stitch through more than three layers of material. In prior art seams of this type, it is often necessary to stitch through from six to twelve layers of material in the region of the waist band. Since my irnproved expansible seam requires that no more than three layers of material be stitched together in any operation, it is obvious that lighter machines and higher sewing speeds may be employed in the manufacture of my seams than in the manufacture of those seams which require six to twelve layers to be stitched together in one operation.

While I have disclosed and described my invention as being adapted to a work trouser garment. it is obvious that this is not the sole application of my invention.

3 Therefore, the. embodimentv which I have disclosed is to be considered as, exemplary rather than limiting. andthe. true scope of my invention is that defined in the following claim. II claim:

In a pair of tronsens; having: a. paix. of* back panels secured: together along adjacent: margins; to; form a central seam, said panels` having waistfline. deningfedges, a conf tinuous waist band; secuned along its, bottom edt/ge to said waist-line defining edgesA of said panels, a fold' i'n. said waistband andl in .one of said panels adjacent said seam and tapering. inf Widthfrom the top10? the. bottoml thereof ands overlying a corresponding area of' saidi other panel', a second; seam along said; fold; securing` said` fold:` to the i other one of said panels and extending across the waist band and along the fold for thev full, length thereof, and said waist band lying againstthe inner side of said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,181 Friedman Nov. 8, 1921 1,426,892 McCoy Aug. 22, 1922 1,465,415 Brunzel Aug..2.1, 1923, 1,701,049 McMullen Feb. 5,- 1929 2,187,447 Chait et al. Jan. 16, 1940 2,633,577 Stein Apr. 7, 1953 2,674,742 Cantil Apr. 1-3',v 1'954 

